Hemp Seed Oil

A nutritional oil cold-pressed from hemp seeds, rich in omega fatty acids and GLA, containing essentially no cannabinoids on its own.

Hemp Seed Oil for Dogs: Omega Fats, GLA, and How It Differs From CBD Oil

Hemp seed oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant. It is a nutritional oil, prized for its fatty acid profile, and on its own it contains essentially no cannabinoids. That single fact clears up most of the confusion on this topic.

HempMy Pet uses organic hemp seed oil as a carrier and infuses it with full-spectrum hemp extract — so our bottles give you both the seed oil's nutrition and the extract's cannabinoids. Those are two different things from two different parts of the plant.

What Is Hemp Seed Oil?

Press hemp seeds and you get hemp seed oil. Extract the leaves and flowers and you get hemp extract, which is where CBD, CBG and the other cannabinoids live.

Seeds carry no meaningful cannabinoid content. So plain hemp seed oil will not do what a hemp extract does, and any product marketed as "hemp oil" without a cannabinoid figure on the label deserves a closer look.

Hemp Seed Oil vs Hemp Extract vs CBD Oil

Three terms, constantly muddled. Hemp seed oil is a food-grade oil from seeds. Hemp extract is the cannabinoid-bearing extract from leaf and flower. "CBD oil" is normally hemp extract diluted in a carrier oil.

Our products are the third thing: an organic carrier oil carrying full-spectrum hemp extract, with the cannabinoid content stated and verified by a third-party lab.

Nutritional Profile

Hemp seed is roughly one-third oil, and that oil is more than 80% polyunsaturated fat. Its omega-6 to omega-3 ratio normally falls between 2:1 and 3:1, which is unusually favourable among plant oils. It also supplies gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid, two fatty acids most plant oils lack entirely. These figures come from Callaway's review of hempseed in Euphytica.

GLA is the reason hemp seed oil earned its reputation for skin and coat. It is a genuine point of difference, not marketing.

That same 80%-plus polyunsaturated figure is also why storage matters here more than for other oils — polyunsaturated fats are the most oxidation-prone fats there are. See the storage section below.

An Honest Limit Worth Knowing

Hemp seed oil's omega-3 is ALA, the plant form. Dogs convert ALA to the longer-chain EPA and DHA inefficiently, so hemp seed oil should be understood as an omega-6 and GLA source that supports the skin barrier — not as a substitute for marine omega-3s. VCA Animal Hospitals covers the marine side.

Most brands will not tell you that. We would rather you buy the right oil for the right reason.

What Hemp Seed Oil May Support

As part of a complete diet, the fatty acids in hemp seed oil support normal skin barrier function, a healthy-looking coat, and normal joint comfort and mobility associated with everyday activity.

Changes in coat condition show up over weeks, not days. Give it a full grooming cycle before judging.

How HempMy Pet Uses Hemp Seed Oil

We breed our own hemp genetics, grow them on our Longmont, Colorado farm using organic growing practices, and formulate in-house — seed to sale, no brokers. Our organic hemp seed oil is infused with full-spectrum extract and third-party tested every batch.

Two strengths sit in the CBD Hemp Seed Oil collection: Hemp Seed Oil, Organic at 250mg CBD and at 1000mg CBD, both 1 fl. oz. bottles. See also CBD Hemp for Dogs and CBD Hemp for Cats.

How to Give Hemp Seed Oil to Your Pet

Most owners drop it straight onto food. Start below the suggested serving and work up over a week or two. Check the product page for the serving that matches your pet's weight.

Storage: Refrigerate After Opening

Refrigerate the bottle once you open it. Hemp seed oil is a highly polyunsaturated oil, which is exactly what makes its fatty acid profile valuable and also what makes it oxidise faster than a monounsaturated or saturated oil. It is the same reason hemp seed oil is cold-pressed and never used for cooking. Cold slows that oxidation down and keeps the bottle in the dark at the same time.

The oil thickens in the fridge — that is viscosity, not spoilage. Let the bottle stand out for a minute or warm it in your hand and the pipette fills normally again. An unopened, sealed bottle is fine in a cool, dark cupboard until you break the seal.

Keep it out of direct light either way, and see shelf life and storage for how the carrier oils differ — coconut oil and olive oil are far more stable and do not need refrigerating.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil for dogs? Hemp seed oil is pressed from seeds and carries essentially no cannabinoids. CBD oil is hemp extract from leaf and flower, diluted in a carrier. Our bottles combine both.

Will hemp seed oil get my dog high? No. It is not intoxicating, and it carries no meaningful THC.

Is hemp seed oil safe for dogs? It is a food-grade oil that is generally well tolerated. As with any added fat, introduce it gradually and count the calories inside the daily food budget.

Does hemp seed oil need to be refrigerated? Once opened, yes. Its high polyunsaturated content is what makes it nutritionally useful and also what makes it prone to oxidation, and the fridge is the simplest way to slow that. A sealed, unopened bottle is fine in a cool, dark cupboard.

Why did my hemp seed oil get thick in the fridge? Cold raises the viscosity of any oil. Nothing has spoiled or separated permanently — stand the bottle out for a minute or warm it in your hand and it draws normally again.

How much hemp seed oil should I give my dog? Servings scale with body weight — follow the serving guidance on the product page and build up slowly.

Does hemp seed oil help with dry skin and a dull coat? Its fatty acids, including GLA, support normal skin barrier function and coat condition. Expect to judge results over weeks.

Is hemp seed oil better than fish oil? They do different jobs. Hemp seed oil supplies omega-6 and GLA; fish oil supplies EPA and DHA directly. Many diets benefit from both.

What are the possible side effects of hemp oil in dogs? The common ones are digestive — loose stool or a briefly upset stomach, usually from too much too soon. Any added fat is calorie-dense, so count it inside the daily food budget.

Does hemp seed oil make dogs sleepy? Plain hemp seed oil is a nutritional oil and is not sedating. Cannabinoid products are a different question — see CBD.

Can I give my dog hemp oil every day? Yes, daily use is typical. Build up to the full serving gradually and keep it inside the day's calories.

What are the disadvantages of hemp seed oil? It is not a source of EPA and DHA, it is calorie-dense, and being highly polyunsaturated it oxidises faster than more saturated oils. Refrigerate it once opened and keep it out of direct light.

How do I know if hemp seed oil has gone rancid? Smell it. Fresh oil smells green, nutty and faintly grassy; oxidised oil smells sharp, waxy or like old crayons, and tastes bitter. Most dogs will refuse it before you notice.

Can I give my dog human hemp seed oil? The oil itself is the same food, but human products may add flavourings and are not formulated or tested for pets. A pet-specific, third-party-tested product is the safer choice.